“Ed is a veteran defenseman who wanted to return to Florida and we are pleased to have him back in a Panthers uniform,” said Tallon. “He is a five-time NHL All-Star, who has played in more than 1,000 games and will be a mentor for our young defensemen and a leader in the locker room. Ed played an important part in the early success of our franchise and we look forward to his return to South Florida and the Panthers family.”

Jovanovski, 35, returns to South Florida after originally being drafted by the Florida Panthers with their first choice in the 1994 National Hockey League Entry Draft. The Windsor, Ontario native helped the Panthers capture the 1996 Eastern Conference Championship and the team’s first spot in the Stanley Cup Finals. He places among the franchise’s all-time defensemen leaders with 29 goals (4th), 54 assists (7th), 83 points (6th) and 549 PIM (3rd).

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound defenseman has played in 1,019 career NHL games with Florida (1995-98), Vancouver (1998-2006) and Phoenix (2006-11) scoring 133 goals with 348 assists and 1,421 PIM. He has also appeared in 69 post season contests registering 30 points (11-19-30) and 98 PIM.

Jovanovski, a five-time NHL All-Star (2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008), also won a Gold Medal while playing for Team Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

The Florida Panthers Offseason is presented by JetBlue. Sunrise Sports & Entertainment is the premier company of its kind in South Florida. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Home to more than 200 events annually and the Florida Panthers Hockey Club, the BankAtlantic Center was a finalist for Arena of the Year in annual awards given by trade publication Pollstar.